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To Minnie 11 & CupOfTea
Dear Minnie11,
Here's my humble opinion about codeine and dihydrocodeine:
I believe dihydrocodeine to be at least twice as strong as codeine if not even stronger; the wds from dihydrocodeine - especially "contugesic" which is the 60, 90 & 120mg timed release dihydrocodeine brand - are generally considered more unpleasant than from codeine.
In the US I don't even think it's possible to buy (even with a prescription) dihydrocodeine in its "pure" form: i.e. without either paracetamol and/or paracetamol and caffeine.
In the UK the 30mg version of dihydrocodeine is typically given out as a post-operative (for not so serious operations) painkiller or as a heroin substitute for those trying to come off heroin, as an alternative to methadone.....I guess that indicates its considered potency by certain members of the medical profession.
I for one have been taking various combinations of the 30's and the 60s and 90s on repeat prescription for the last 4 years to treat the pain I suffer as a result of ankylosing spondilitis - a form of rheumatoid arthritis.
I hope this is of help to you....don't hesitate to email me on ***@**** if I can be of any further assistance.
Here's my humble opinion about codeine and dihydrocodeine:
I believe dihydrocodeine to be at least twice as strong as codeine if not even stronger; the wds from dihydrocodeine - especially "contugesic" which is the 60, 90 & 120mg timed release dihydrocodeine brand - are generally considered more unpleasant than from codeine.
In the US I don't even think it's possible to buy (even with a prescription) dihydrocodeine in its "pure" form: i.e. without either paracetamol and/or paracetamol and caffeine.
In the UK the 30mg version of dihydrocodeine is typically given out as a post-operative (for not so serious operations) painkiller or as a heroin substitute for those trying to come off heroin, as an alternative to methadone.....I guess that indicates its considered potency by certain members of the medical profession.
I for one have been taking various combinations of the 30's and the 60s and 90s on repeat prescription for the last 4 years to treat the pain I suffer as a result of ankylosing spondilitis - a form of rheumatoid arthritis.
I hope this is of help to you....don't hesitate to email me on ***@**** if I can be of any further assistance.
First of all I wish to congratulate you on the results you received from the specialist. It sounds very encouraging that he actually thinks that he can help you and I agree that the odds are in your favour and that there may be a good chance of improvement. But when you have had the operation will you be bed-bound for long afterwards? How long do you stay in hospital? I imagine it must be a bit difficult entering a foreign hospital system with another language and way of doing things. Do you speak French well? I just realized that the operation is the day after tomorrow, I hope that you are not too anxious about it, at least it is very important that you have a lot of confidence in the surgeon. I will think about you on Friday and keep my fingers crossed for you.
I would like very much to stay in touch as I have also valued your support tremendously (we are the same age, have children, and there are quite a few other similarities I believe), and you seem very grounded and offer sound advice). I like the idea of exchanging email addresses, even though one normally wouldn't volunteer such information on a board, but as this will be on page 10, I hope it will be okay. My address is ***@****.
And now the more discouraging news. I have totally screwed up the plan - well not totally, but still I feel that I must start all over again. What happened was that I took 5 tramadols according to plan friday and saturday and felt OK, until sunday morning, where I got an upset stomach and extreme aches and pain everywhere. It suddenly hit me that it could be the start of withdrawals and I sort of panicked (I couldn't face being miserable thos few days with my family on holiday) and ended up taking 10 tramadols that day - which naturally helped. Monday I took only 6 tramadols, but tuesday I took another 10, because I got an upset stomach and flu symptoms again. When we arrived home I foudn out I actually had a fever, so maybe it is the flu and not w/d. Maybe it wasn't quite as easy as I thought. I am very discouraged and feel that I have let myself and everyone else down, but I will now try again with 6 for the rest of this week and then try with 5 again sunday/monday. But this dependency really sucks!!
I will look very much forward to your reply.
I would like very much to stay in touch as I have also valued your support tremendously (we are the same age, have children, and there are quite a few other similarities I believe), and you seem very grounded and offer sound advice). I like the idea of exchanging email addresses, even though one normally wouldn't volunteer such information on a board, but as this will be on page 10, I hope it will be okay. My address is ***@****.
And now the more discouraging news. I have totally screwed up the plan - well not totally, but still I feel that I must start all over again. What happened was that I took 5 tramadols according to plan friday and saturday and felt OK, until sunday morning, where I got an upset stomach and extreme aches and pain everywhere. It suddenly hit me that it could be the start of withdrawals and I sort of panicked (I couldn't face being miserable thos few days with my family on holiday) and ended up taking 10 tramadols that day - which naturally helped. Monday I took only 6 tramadols, but tuesday I took another 10, because I got an upset stomach and flu symptoms again. When we arrived home I foudn out I actually had a fever, so maybe it is the flu and not w/d. Maybe it wasn't quite as easy as I thought. I am very discouraged and feel that I have let myself and everyone else down, but I will now try again with 6 for the rest of this week and then try with 5 again sunday/monday. But this dependency really sucks!!
I will look very much forward to your reply.
Well done for keeping your Tramadol use so low and for being so positive about it. I guess by now you are heading towards London and I really hope you have a fantastic time and that it adds energy to your resolve to be Tramadol free.
I spent a long and exhausting day yesterday but with a positive outcome. I will have minimally invasive aware state microsurgery next Friday. The surgeon was excellent, I was with him more than two hours and then saw the anaesthetist. I will be in the operation more than 3 hours as my back is in a mess and he needs to do more investigation to be more exact about which bits of the mess are the bits causing the most of the problem. But from his research he anticipates at least 80% chance of at least 50% improvement - these are odds which are good enough for me! I continue to feel calm and focused, not hoping for a miracle, but for functional improvement. He also talked about techniques he could use in future years as my conditon will inevitably continue to deteriorate.
I also find the support from the forum, and especially the growing friendship with you, to be enormously helpful. I probably will try and find somewhere similar more turned specifically towards back pain. But I would very much like to stay in touch - not sure how you feel about exchanging email addresses and giving this little friendship a chance to grow outside the forum? I feel perhaps I know you well enough to take a chance on this, although it is not something I would advise my son to do!
Anyway, many thoughts for a fantastic weekend with your pain and worries being in the background.
I spent a long and exhausting day yesterday but with a positive outcome. I will have minimally invasive aware state microsurgery next Friday. The surgeon was excellent, I was with him more than two hours and then saw the anaesthetist. I will be in the operation more than 3 hours as my back is in a mess and he needs to do more investigation to be more exact about which bits of the mess are the bits causing the most of the problem. But from his research he anticipates at least 80% chance of at least 50% improvement - these are odds which are good enough for me! I continue to feel calm and focused, not hoping for a miracle, but for functional improvement. He also talked about techniques he could use in future years as my conditon will inevitably continue to deteriorate.
I also find the support from the forum, and especially the growing friendship with you, to be enormously helpful. I probably will try and find somewhere similar more turned specifically towards back pain. But I would very much like to stay in touch - not sure how you feel about exchanging email addresses and giving this little friendship a chance to grow outside the forum? I feel perhaps I know you well enough to take a chance on this, although it is not something I would advise my son to do!
Anyway, many thoughts for a fantastic weekend with your pain and worries being in the background.
Good morning
I am pleased to say that I stuck to the planned 6 tramadols yesterday (and 1 sleeping pill) and am now going to attempt to only take 5 today. But the pain has luckily been a bit better in general this week (with only two really bad days) which makes it a lot easier, I'm sure. I have no experience at all with tapering and on this forum I have read that one should taper slowly and one should taper quickly so I really do not know what is best, but I feel it will be best to taper for at least another week before I quit altogether. I am going to London tomorrow and I am reasonably confident that I will be able to have a nice trip on 5 tramadols a day, which is good as I will be able to get real enjoyment out of the trip. I will check Boots for a smaller heating pad, I too believe in heat for pain management, but it is just not so easy with the face/jawline as it is a bit hard to immerse it in a bath tub and not kill myself :-)
My thoughts are with you today when I know that you are seeing a specialist about your back. I really hope that he can come up with a constructive plan for you so you will not have to live with this kind of pain. I will keep my fingers crossed.
Thank you so much for you support this week, I honestly don't know if I could have done it without it. It has been of tremendous value, since I don't discuss it much with my husband or others, and helped to keep my resolve. I know I am nowhere near free of the medication, but I am encouraged by the success of this week and feel positive about next week. I will be in London from Saturday until Tuesday and if you do not want to keep posting on this board now that your use of tramadol is way behind you I totally understand. I would, however, really like to know how your appointment with the specialist goes today, now that we have been sharing a little part of our lives for the past couple of weeks, so please tell me about it.
Good luck with the appointment, I hope that you have a wonderful weekend with your family in the French mountains.
Minnie
I am pleased to say that I stuck to the planned 6 tramadols yesterday (and 1 sleeping pill) and am now going to attempt to only take 5 today. But the pain has luckily been a bit better in general this week (with only two really bad days) which makes it a lot easier, I'm sure. I have no experience at all with tapering and on this forum I have read that one should taper slowly and one should taper quickly so I really do not know what is best, but I feel it will be best to taper for at least another week before I quit altogether. I am going to London tomorrow and I am reasonably confident that I will be able to have a nice trip on 5 tramadols a day, which is good as I will be able to get real enjoyment out of the trip. I will check Boots for a smaller heating pad, I too believe in heat for pain management, but it is just not so easy with the face/jawline as it is a bit hard to immerse it in a bath tub and not kill myself :-)
My thoughts are with you today when I know that you are seeing a specialist about your back. I really hope that he can come up with a constructive plan for you so you will not have to live with this kind of pain. I will keep my fingers crossed.
Thank you so much for you support this week, I honestly don't know if I could have done it without it. It has been of tremendous value, since I don't discuss it much with my husband or others, and helped to keep my resolve. I know I am nowhere near free of the medication, but I am encouraged by the success of this week and feel positive about next week. I will be in London from Saturday until Tuesday and if you do not want to keep posting on this board now that your use of tramadol is way behind you I totally understand. I would, however, really like to know how your appointment with the specialist goes today, now that we have been sharing a little part of our lives for the past couple of weeks, so please tell me about it.
Good luck with the appointment, I hope that you have a wonderful weekend with your family in the French mountains.
Minnie
I am sure you are right not to beat yourself up as in fact, as you say, in fact you are doing really well. You are in line with your plan and still determined to stop the meds and taking loads less than you were. Well done!
I slept in 2 hour bursts with short periods of pain and stiffness during which I stayed calm, did some exercises and got back to sleep without too much trouble. This is very good for me. I am tired but OK and focused on tomorrow. I am just completing a very comprehensive assessment questionnaire which is feeling quite emotional, facing the extent of my problems.
As for the hot water bottle - if you think the heat might help but the bottle is too heavy, you could look for one of those very small electric heat pads, they are in the UK (good old Boots!), like a piece of furry blanket. Or the little things that go in the microwave - they have a form of them filled with a gel which perhaps might not feel so heavy.
Glad you are going to the gym. I am sure exercise improves so many things in our bodies if we can get over the initial hurdles and get started. Hope you enjoy it.
Hope today is easier than yesterday and that you find relief from your pain without extra pills. Well done for getting this far!
I slept in 2 hour bursts with short periods of pain and stiffness during which I stayed calm, did some exercises and got back to sleep without too much trouble. This is very good for me. I am tired but OK and focused on tomorrow. I am just completing a very comprehensive assessment questionnaire which is feeling quite emotional, facing the extent of my problems.
As for the hot water bottle - if you think the heat might help but the bottle is too heavy, you could look for one of those very small electric heat pads, they are in the UK (good old Boots!), like a piece of furry blanket. Or the little things that go in the microwave - they have a form of them filled with a gel which perhaps might not feel so heavy.
Glad you are going to the gym. I am sure exercise improves so many things in our bodies if we can get over the initial hurdles and get started. Hope you enjoy it.
Hope today is easier than yesterday and that you find relief from your pain without extra pills. Well done for getting this far!
Good morning CupOfTea
Just wanted to let you know that I unfortunately ended up taking 7 tramadols again yesterday - but it really was an extremely bad day. I have decided that it makes no sense to beat myself up about this and I try to console myself by remembering that even though it wasn't exactly according to plan it was still 5 pills less on a daily basis than before, and I try to console myself with the fact that I got through a bad day with only one more tramadol than the day before. Today, however, I have had a good night's sleep and feel better, I am determined to take only six tramadol today and have arranged to go to the gym this afternoon, so I am still going ahead with the plan and will go down to five tomorrow. I have now survived five days without the relaxed feeling that I enjoy so much - but still having some pain relief (I believe) - and that is for me very important as the addicting factor for me also is the calming effect that I get. But I have now experienced that I actually can get by without it and wihout too much difficulty. I hope to be able to get by on six tramadol today and five tomorrow and the four days in London and then hopefully I can lower my dosis even more when I get back. The hot water bottle unfortunately was not a good idea as it felt too heavy, I could not get comfortable.
How are you this morning? Still making progress, I hope -and probably anxiously awaiting the appointment tomorrow with the surgeon. Have a very nice day and I will be thinking about you tomorrow and keeping my fingers crossed that the surgeon will have a plan.
Minnie
Just wanted to let you know that I unfortunately ended up taking 7 tramadols again yesterday - but it really was an extremely bad day. I have decided that it makes no sense to beat myself up about this and I try to console myself by remembering that even though it wasn't exactly according to plan it was still 5 pills less on a daily basis than before, and I try to console myself with the fact that I got through a bad day with only one more tramadol than the day before. Today, however, I have had a good night's sleep and feel better, I am determined to take only six tramadol today and have arranged to go to the gym this afternoon, so I am still going ahead with the plan and will go down to five tomorrow. I have now survived five days without the relaxed feeling that I enjoy so much - but still having some pain relief (I believe) - and that is for me very important as the addicting factor for me also is the calming effect that I get. But I have now experienced that I actually can get by without it and wihout too much difficulty. I hope to be able to get by on six tramadol today and five tomorrow and the four days in London and then hopefully I can lower my dosis even more when I get back. The hot water bottle unfortunately was not a good idea as it felt too heavy, I could not get comfortable.
How are you this morning? Still making progress, I hope -and probably anxiously awaiting the appointment tomorrow with the surgeon. Have a very nice day and I will be thinking about you tomorrow and keeping my fingers crossed that the surgeon will have a plan.
Minnie
I am back from nearby village in true french style with baguette sticking out of rucksack pocket.
Glad you plan a rest with hot water bottle. I think heat is a lovely thing. I remember using things when I worked in the hospice, little cotton bags filled with beans or something that could warm in the microwave. I could imagine something like that quite comfortable on the face. Do you have a TENS machine? It would look a bit odd on the face I guess but when you are in on your own who cares? I find mine very soothing when the pain is very bad.
No, I don't take sleeping tablets. I've never liked taking any medication and now I've given myself such a fright with the tramadol I'm even more pathetic and scared about it. I tried a herbal one (valerian) but didn't even like that and only managed two nights with it. What a wuss. The last two nights my partner has done me a very soothing back massage when I got into bed and that helped a lot. Six hours sleep is a miracle for me and I feel a lot better for it. I'm not sleeping at all in the day now to try and encourage sleep at night.
Hope you are hanging on in there, it will be such an achievement to have a difficult day behind you and know that you got through it. Just a little bit at a time and it will pass. Sending love and encouragement.
Glad you plan a rest with hot water bottle. I think heat is a lovely thing. I remember using things when I worked in the hospice, little cotton bags filled with beans or something that could warm in the microwave. I could imagine something like that quite comfortable on the face. Do you have a TENS machine? It would look a bit odd on the face I guess but when you are in on your own who cares? I find mine very soothing when the pain is very bad.
No, I don't take sleeping tablets. I've never liked taking any medication and now I've given myself such a fright with the tramadol I'm even more pathetic and scared about it. I tried a herbal one (valerian) but didn't even like that and only managed two nights with it. What a wuss. The last two nights my partner has done me a very soothing back massage when I got into bed and that helped a lot. Six hours sleep is a miracle for me and I feel a lot better for it. I'm not sleeping at all in the day now to try and encourage sleep at night.
Hope you are hanging on in there, it will be such an achievement to have a difficult day behind you and know that you got through it. Just a little bit at a time and it will pass. Sending love and encouragement.
Couldn't help smiling at your description of letting go of your tendency to try to organize everything for everybody. I know the problem well, and the only thing I am doing about it right now is laying low and not seing anyone, unless I think I can be my usual helpful self. If I think about it, naturally my family can manage quite well without my help/organizing/medling in everything, but I always have this feeling that I must pull myself together because people are counting on me and I don't want to let people down (a feeling familiar to many women with families in their late 40's-50's I think). Anyway I am still not doing good, but your suggestion about a hot water bottle is good - I actually have a furry one from Boots somewhere :-). I will try putting that on my jaw when lying down a little later.
I am so pleased to hear that you are doing so much better (even attempting bike rides!) and six hours of uninterrupted sleep is actually almost enough - I gather you are not taking any sleeping pills? I know that you prefer not to, but you can get some very weak sleeping pills (I take something called Stilnoct that my brother who is a very conscientious doctor, has prescribed to me) which you could take only when it is very bad, they can even be broken in halves, I find that the pain is always worse if you don't get enough sleep.
Regarding exercise I have not been to the gym for two months, but actually started last week, just one hour and it went okay, baby-steps, but I am going tomorrow night as well with my husband, because I know that exercise might help - at the very least it will not make it worse.
I hope the rest of your day will be as productive as this morning!
Minnie
I am so pleased to hear that you are doing so much better (even attempting bike rides!) and six hours of uninterrupted sleep is actually almost enough - I gather you are not taking any sleeping pills? I know that you prefer not to, but you can get some very weak sleeping pills (I take something called Stilnoct that my brother who is a very conscientious doctor, has prescribed to me) which you could take only when it is very bad, they can even be broken in halves, I find that the pain is always worse if you don't get enough sleep.
Regarding exercise I have not been to the gym for two months, but actually started last week, just one hour and it went okay, baby-steps, but I am going tomorrow night as well with my husband, because I know that exercise might help - at the very least it will not make it worse.
I hope the rest of your day will be as productive as this morning!
Minnie
Good morning Cupoftea
Hope you are doing well in the French mountains. I keep posting here even if it takes longer and longer to find it - maybe not so good an idea.
I have now made it three days (sort of - but with only one more tramadol than scheduled) without any problems to speak of, but I feel terrible today, not from withdrawals, but because the pain is bad today (god, it is depressing). I don't know if I can stick to the plan today, but I will try, maybe it will be better later. I have started the day with two aspirin, but it just doesn't cut it. No matter what happens I am still determined to lower the dosis to five friday as planned. If I can function on six without problems, I should be able to function ok on five as well. I am going to London on Saturday (just until Tuesday) with my husband and children and I'm looking forward to it very much (I just love London and visit at least once a year - ever since I was 18). I hope the pain will be managable, but I am relieved that I at least won't have walk around in a drug-induced haze, but will be able to function almost normally on five tramadols a day and get to enjoy the trip - better than 12 a day anyway, right?
How are you this morning, still doing OK?
Minnie
Hope you are doing well in the French mountains. I keep posting here even if it takes longer and longer to find it - maybe not so good an idea.
I have now made it three days (sort of - but with only one more tramadol than scheduled) without any problems to speak of, but I feel terrible today, not from withdrawals, but because the pain is bad today (god, it is depressing). I don't know if I can stick to the plan today, but I will try, maybe it will be better later. I have started the day with two aspirin, but it just doesn't cut it. No matter what happens I am still determined to lower the dosis to five friday as planned. If I can function on six without problems, I should be able to function ok on five as well. I am going to London on Saturday (just until Tuesday) with my husband and children and I'm looking forward to it very much (I just love London and visit at least once a year - ever since I was 18). I hope the pain will be managable, but I am relieved that I at least won't have walk around in a drug-induced haze, but will be able to function almost normally on five tramadols a day and get to enjoy the trip - better than 12 a day anyway, right?
How are you this morning, still doing OK?
Minnie
Good morning Minnie
Well done for making this far with your reduced pain. You are doing really well. Remember pain is only pain and it won't kill you. And mostly it passes into another place where it is either a bit easier or something is distracting enough to move it from the front of your mind for a bit. Can you exercise and little and try and benefit from some natural endorphins? I have always found over the years that the agony of starting the exercise has been worth it once I am over the initial hurdle. Does heat help? I use hot water bottles a lot, but this is more difficult on the face! Can you get a relaxing massage or acupuncture? These things have eased me in small amounts but every litte helps. I agree that there seems little point taking aspirin or paracetomol as they don't go anywhere near it.
I send you lots of positive energy to get through this difficult day. Tramadol is not the answer, you have decided that. Stick firm to your decision and let your mind wander creatively to alternatives.
As for me - pretty smug I'm afraid. Managed almost 6 hours relaxed and almost unbroken sleep still without any medication. It is helping my confidence that I can have easier nights and that I am not doomed to misery for the rest of my life. Day 10 today and for the first time I got up without the shakey feeling - it's been less every day, but today was gone altogether. My weight is still a bit low but stable and I am still much hungrier than normal. I'm going up to the next village on my bike for some shopping, cycling helps me although it is hell to get going.
I'm also doing well at letting the rest of my life roll along without me doing my usual thing of trying to organise everything. I am really trying to change so that I can cope better with my pain, but it's a long journey.
Well done for making this far with your reduced pain. You are doing really well. Remember pain is only pain and it won't kill you. And mostly it passes into another place where it is either a bit easier or something is distracting enough to move it from the front of your mind for a bit. Can you exercise and little and try and benefit from some natural endorphins? I have always found over the years that the agony of starting the exercise has been worth it once I am over the initial hurdle. Does heat help? I use hot water bottles a lot, but this is more difficult on the face! Can you get a relaxing massage or acupuncture? These things have eased me in small amounts but every litte helps. I agree that there seems little point taking aspirin or paracetomol as they don't go anywhere near it.
I send you lots of positive energy to get through this difficult day. Tramadol is not the answer, you have decided that. Stick firm to your decision and let your mind wander creatively to alternatives.
As for me - pretty smug I'm afraid. Managed almost 6 hours relaxed and almost unbroken sleep still without any medication. It is helping my confidence that I can have easier nights and that I am not doomed to misery for the rest of my life. Day 10 today and for the first time I got up without the shakey feeling - it's been less every day, but today was gone altogether. My weight is still a bit low but stable and I am still much hungrier than normal. I'm going up to the next village on my bike for some shopping, cycling helps me although it is hell to get going.
I'm also doing well at letting the rest of my life roll along without me doing my usual thing of trying to organise everything. I am really trying to change so that I can cope better with my pain, but it's a long journey.
Forgot to answer your question.
I do take a Danish version of Aspirin (over the counter medication), but as the pain is in my jaw there is not a whole lot I can think of to ease the pain, apoart from that - which is not very effective. Ibuprofen is too hard on the stomach. The best method is sleeping (in order to attempt to relax the jaw muscles) and for some reason and quite contrary to what one might think - eating. For some reason I don't feel the pain if I eat - of course I only eat soft things - but still. But that is not all that helpful as you cannot eat all the
time :-) And because it is difficult to find relief from this constant pain I do like both the unquestionable pain relief that Tramadol provides, but also the relaxing feeling it gives, which eases the desperation I feel sometimes when it gets too much. So I do find tramadol to be effective, both as a painkiller and a tranquilizer - and I guess that could potentially be dangerous - and the psychological part of the addiction.
Enough rambling for now. And thanks for reading :-)
I do take a Danish version of Aspirin (over the counter medication), but as the pain is in my jaw there is not a whole lot I can think of to ease the pain, apoart from that - which is not very effective. Ibuprofen is too hard on the stomach. The best method is sleeping (in order to attempt to relax the jaw muscles) and for some reason and quite contrary to what one might think - eating. For some reason I don't feel the pain if I eat - of course I only eat soft things - but still. But that is not all that helpful as you cannot eat all the
time :-) And because it is difficult to find relief from this constant pain I do like both the unquestionable pain relief that Tramadol provides, but also the relaxing feeling it gives, which eases the desperation I feel sometimes when it gets too much. So I do find tramadol to be effective, both as a painkiller and a tranquilizer - and I guess that could potentially be dangerous - and the psychological part of the addiction.
Enough rambling for now. And thanks for reading :-)
I have a terrible fear of becoming a 'back bore'! I am concerned about how I would know it was happening to me!
I understand exactly what you mean about being the strong woman, who seems to have everything in control and so on, and to whom others come to for help. Since I came to France I have been focusing on trying to break this cycle my life and practise paying more attention to my own needs.
What other things ease your pain when you are waiting for medication? Or is it the sense of relaxation that you look forward to? Is that anything else that helps with that (I'm smiling to myself about how long I spend soaking in hot water for that reason!).
Hope you make it through just with the two pills as planned and have a pleasant evening.
I understand exactly what you mean about being the strong woman, who seems to have everything in control and so on, and to whom others come to for help. Since I came to France I have been focusing on trying to break this cycle my life and practise paying more attention to my own needs.
What other things ease your pain when you are waiting for medication? Or is it the sense of relaxation that you look forward to? Is that anything else that helps with that (I'm smiling to myself about how long I spend soaking in hot water for that reason!).
Hope you make it through just with the two pills as planned and have a pleasant evening.
I am not quite sure if one is supposed to keep posting on the same whatever-it-is-called, but I gather you aren't too familiar with this forum-stuff either.
But I just wanted to let you know that I do understand about your coping strategy and not wanting to change the image of being a strong and healthy woman, even if your back problems are something that you have little or no control over and which is no fault of your own. I haven't told anyone how bad I really feel and about this tramadol-business, I have always been perceived as a strong person with everything in control, whom everyone else comes to for help and advice, not that my friends and immediate familiy are not aware that I have problems with painful infections, but not the extent of it, also because it is so boring always contributing to the conversation with something as depressing as pain and illness. Furthermore I tend to withdraw, when I am in pain, and stop seing friends and family, because I only want to be social if I can be the usual cheerful me and the way I want to be and people expect me to be. But it would probably be a lot easier if I "came out of the closet" like you have done, and which has probably been a positive experience with added support from your friends and family.
I am not exactly struggling today, but I AM checking the clock to see when I will have the last two pills for today. So I wonder how I am going to feel tonight. It is a good thing that I have sleeping pills as well.
Thanks so much for the great support and I hope you have a nice evening and especially a good night's sleep.
Minnie
But I just wanted to let you know that I do understand about your coping strategy and not wanting to change the image of being a strong and healthy woman, even if your back problems are something that you have little or no control over and which is no fault of your own. I haven't told anyone how bad I really feel and about this tramadol-business, I have always been perceived as a strong person with everything in control, whom everyone else comes to for help and advice, not that my friends and immediate familiy are not aware that I have problems with painful infections, but not the extent of it, also because it is so boring always contributing to the conversation with something as depressing as pain and illness. Furthermore I tend to withdraw, when I am in pain, and stop seing friends and family, because I only want to be social if I can be the usual cheerful me and the way I want to be and people expect me to be. But it would probably be a lot easier if I "came out of the closet" like you have done, and which has probably been a positive experience with added support from your friends and family.
I am not exactly struggling today, but I AM checking the clock to see when I will have the last two pills for today. So I wonder how I am going to feel tonight. It is a good thing that I have sleeping pills as well.
Thanks so much for the great support and I hope you have a nice evening and especially a good night's sleep.
Minnie
I think you are doing great by cutting down to half. And at this level you are within the maximum recommended dose so your body isn't taking such a hammering. I understand what you mean about the capsules, but you seem to have worked out a method to suit you. So, good stuff, keep going. I think you are amazing for continuing to work through it. I have the luxury of being full time at home and even then it gets pretty tough at times.
I am not sure how heavy this potential job would be, and it may come to nothing, and on Friday I may get a date for surgery which would change it all anyway. I am being a bit of an ostrich about this, it really is one of the demons I don't want to face. I have spent my entire life, until last year, hiding my back problem. Not even my close friends knew. It worked for me as a coping strategy until the pain went so high I could no longer manage. So I'm out of the closet, but old habits are hard to break (as we know only too well) and I still can't leave behind the image I built up to myself and others of this strong healthy woman. I thought if I kept on pretending then it would be true. Does that make any kind of sense? It's another type of addiction I guess, to a now innapropriate way of coping.
Enough rambling, I'm off to attempt some housework. Slow but sure! best wishes for a relaxed day with our various aches and pains.
I am not sure how heavy this potential job would be, and it may come to nothing, and on Friday I may get a date for surgery which would change it all anyway. I am being a bit of an ostrich about this, it really is one of the demons I don't want to face. I have spent my entire life, until last year, hiding my back problem. Not even my close friends knew. It worked for me as a coping strategy until the pain went so high I could no longer manage. So I'm out of the closet, but old habits are hard to break (as we know only too well) and I still can't leave behind the image I built up to myself and others of this strong healthy woman. I thought if I kept on pretending then it would be true. Does that make any kind of sense? It's another type of addiction I guess, to a now innapropriate way of coping.
Enough rambling, I'm off to attempt some housework. Slow but sure! best wishes for a relaxed day with our various aches and pains.
Good morning David, good to hear from you again and hope you are managing to stay positive and find pleasure in your days despite the pain.
I posted you some stuff the other evening about Rheumatology referrals (on the 1st Feb I think) which I am not sure whether you have seen. I am a forum novice and find it a bit confusing when to start new questions and when to continue the old threads. Anyway, you might or might want it, and it may not be of any help at all, but it's there for what it's worth.
It's interesting what you say about dihydrocodeine - I have heard the message all through my nursing career that it is pretty nasty stuff (I think we used to call it DF118) and not even necessarily a terribly effective analgesic. And yet you are young - I started nursing back in 1976, so perhaps not much has been learnt by the professionals!
Anyway, I send you my very best wishes.
I posted you some stuff the other evening about Rheumatology referrals (on the 1st Feb I think) which I am not sure whether you have seen. I am a forum novice and find it a bit confusing when to start new questions and when to continue the old threads. Anyway, you might or might want it, and it may not be of any help at all, but it's there for what it's worth.
It's interesting what you say about dihydrocodeine - I have heard the message all through my nursing career that it is pretty nasty stuff (I think we used to call it DF118) and not even necessarily a terribly effective analgesic. And yet you are young - I started nursing back in 1976, so perhaps not much has been learnt by the professionals!
Anyway, I send you my very best wishes.
Good morning Minnie. How's it going? Hope you are still as positive as you sound and have had a good sleep. I did quite well all things considered. I hear you comments about the fact that I wasn't so psychologically dependent on Tramadol and I'm in agreement - except to say that I crave those beautiful, comfortable, pain free, long, sleepy nights that it gave me, the nights I could choose any position at all and feel at ease. Now they were definitely addictive and pain at night was the main reason I started to take the meds - I find it easier to distract myself during the day, or use other techniques. I am also very conscious that the surgical opinion on Friday will draw another line in the sand for me one way or another, and if the answer is no then the real challenge will start.
Are you cutting down again today on your taper or staying steady for a couple of days? Is it better to keep a regular but reduced blood level of medication (ie by taking, say
Are you cutting down again today on your taper or staying steady for a couple of days? Is it better to keep a regular but reduced blood level of medication (ie by taking, say
Thanks for a long and encouraging mail. Let me just start by saying that I am in fact Danish living in Denmark, but I have lived in the States for 2 1/2 years and studied the English language at University for 8 years, so I have to be somewhat fluent :-)
I am still determined and will take only six tramadols today and tomorrow and then five on Friday. The parent/teacher conference went fine (my son had hoped that he didn't have to attend with me or indeed that I didn't think it necessary to speak to all his teachers, but it is the last time, so no mercy), but to answer your question it varies if I can be distracted from the pain when busy or not, sometimes when the pain is bad I can't seem to concentrate on anything, but other times I suddenly realize I haven't been thinking about it for a while. But I am pinning my hope to your experience of being more able to cope when you are not knocked sideways by drugs. I "only" took 7 tramadols yesterday, so it wasn't too bad, and I find that if I take all six before 5 p.m. I can have a productive day and when I then take a sleeping pill, I can make it till early morning. So it isn't too difficult now, but it will probably get more difficult, as I go along. I don'y know about shaving off, because the tramadol I take, come in capsules with powder, and in order not to have to weigh powder etc., I will just try reducing with one at a time. Right now I am quite pleased that I have reduced my intake by half.
I can certainly understand how much it means to you what the surgeon tells you on Friday and your prospects for the future, and I can certainly also relate to the fact that you may feel a bit too young to go on disability, but still, if it will be too much of a strain on your back, do you have to lift patients?, you must accept it and at least be happy that it didn't happen when you were younger - none of us are completely young any more (I have trouble expressing what I actually mean - sometimes it is hard being Danish, so I hope I don't offend you by saying this).
So far so good (I know of course that I'm no hero and taking it very slow), but I'm rather pleased. I hope you have a good day and thanks again for checking in with me, it helps my determination knowing that someone is following my progress.
Minnie
I am still determined and will take only six tramadols today and tomorrow and then five on Friday. The parent/teacher conference went fine (my son had hoped that he didn't have to attend with me or indeed that I didn't think it necessary to speak to all his teachers, but it is the last time, so no mercy), but to answer your question it varies if I can be distracted from the pain when busy or not, sometimes when the pain is bad I can't seem to concentrate on anything, but other times I suddenly realize I haven't been thinking about it for a while. But I am pinning my hope to your experience of being more able to cope when you are not knocked sideways by drugs. I "only" took 7 tramadols yesterday, so it wasn't too bad, and I find that if I take all six before 5 p.m. I can have a productive day and when I then take a sleeping pill, I can make it till early morning. So it isn't too difficult now, but it will probably get more difficult, as I go along. I don'y know about shaving off, because the tramadol I take, come in capsules with powder, and in order not to have to weigh powder etc., I will just try reducing with one at a time. Right now I am quite pleased that I have reduced my intake by half.
I can certainly understand how much it means to you what the surgeon tells you on Friday and your prospects for the future, and I can certainly also relate to the fact that you may feel a bit too young to go on disability, but still, if it will be too much of a strain on your back, do you have to lift patients?, you must accept it and at least be happy that it didn't happen when you were younger - none of us are completely young any more (I have trouble expressing what I actually mean - sometimes it is hard being Danish, so I hope I don't offend you by saying this).
So far so good (I know of course that I'm no hero and taking it very slow), but I'm rather pleased. I hope you have a good day and thanks again for checking in with me, it helps my determination knowing that someone is following my progress.
Minnie
Thanks for clarifying the difference between codeine and dihydrocodeine. I read your post to cupoftea (feeling a bit guilty, but it IS an ope forum after all :-) ) and wanted to say that I can totally relate to your frustration about the need for pain medication and the aversion to taking a medication that is addictive. I too find it impressive the way that Cupoftea and others can remain positive and determined when in a lot of pain most of the time. I really hate this dependency and always having to make sure that I have the medication with me etc., but at the same time I cannot stand the ongoing pain and are sometimes almost willing to do anything to make it go away. I have had quite a few of these infections that spread to the jaw bone (after root canal amputations), it seems that I have a tendency to develop infections and it is very hard to get rid of once it spreads to the bones. It may not sound so bad, but the pain from an infection in the jaw bone is quite bad, and this time when I started taking tramadol I was in so much pain that I probably would have taken them even if I knew that they were addictive. Another problem is that I welcome the relaxing feeling the medication gives me as it - as you of course know - is very hard to relax when in pain, but that will maybe work against me when trying to quit. But I'm nevertheless determined to give it a try. Wish me luck.
I wish you the best and hopefully you will feel better sometime soon.
Minnie
I wish you the best and hopefully you will feel better sometime soon.
Minnie
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